Scottish Student Sport is delighted to welcome Julia Stenhouse as SSS Business Manager. 

Julia, former Sports President at the University of Edinburgh, joins us from the Scottish Handball Association to take over our Business Operations. She’s a student sport expert and brings a wealth of operational experience that will round out SSS’ Summer Signings!

We caught up with Julia to ask her a few questions before she joins the SSS team.

What are you most excited about in joining the SSS team?

I am really looking forward to working day-to-day alongside such a fantastic group of people, as well as re-joining the Scottish Student network! I am constantly amazed and inspired by the enthusiasm and drive of student volunteers and athletes and I can’t wait to get back involved.

What’s the best live sporting moment that you’ve been a part of/seen?

It’s a bit of a stretch to say I was ‘part of’ her moment, but I did report on Eilish McColgan’s incredible 10,000m gold medal finish at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as part of Team Scotland’s media delegation. It was such an incredible moment, for her, and for Scotland, and it’s something I’ll always treasure.

What’s your sporting background, do you play or watch a specific sport?

I played tennis and hockey at school, but only continued with hockey at university where I played as a goalkeeper. Sadly, an injury in my second year caused a step away from playing in goals, but I did use my new-found ‘free time’ to get more involved in volunteering with the University Sports Union. I now play and coach recreational hockey at my local club, as well as try to get away skiing at some point during the winter months!

Additionally, since working for Scottish Handball – and having learnt the rules – I love watching international handball. I absolutely love the pace, ferocity, and skill of the game.

What is your ideal holiday destination? 

My ideal holiday destination would be to Australia and New Zealand. I’d love to visit someday and especially to experience the Great Barrier Reef!

Did you study in Scotland? Do you have a particular allegiance to one of our member institutions that we ought to know about?

Yes I did, I studied at Edinburgh University. I also served a term as the University’s Sports Union President before joining Scottish Handball. Allegiance might not be exactly the right term, but whilst I am incredibly excited to work with all member institutions, it’s true that Edinburgh will always hold a special place in my heart.

We are delighted to welcome Eilidh Paterson as the new Scottish Student Sport Head of Development!

Eilidh began her Scottish Student Sport career five years ago as a Regional Development Coordinator, before transitioning into the Inclusion and Culture Coordinator. Eilidh takes on the mantle from Ian Lowe, who has now moved into a new role at Robert Gordon University.

We caught up with Eilidh to ask her a few questions about how she’s feeling about her new position:

1. What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I can’t wait to catch up with the membership and share our development team’s plans for 2023/24. I’d like to get feedback on our ambitious plans and bring back opportunities to catch up and share experiences within the national forum. It’s a very exciting time to be part of the SSS family with 19 Active Campus Coordinators coming into the fold and starting their journey alongside us. We’ll be sure to update the members on their overall development throughout the year

2. Great stuff! What do you think is the biggest challenge you think you’ll face?

This might sound like a cliché but I don’t really see challenges as such, just opportunities. I understand our members are facing challenges like reduced funding, student suffering due to the cost of living, and growing inequalities. So I want to ensure that the Development team has our ear to the ground and is primed to assist if and when needed.

For those who may not know, I decided to move back home to Thurso before my very exciting appointment. A challenge will be balancing in-person opportunities and ensuring when I do travel, our sustainable value is at the forefront – she says typing on a bus to Inverness.

3. What can the membership expect from Eilidh Paterson, Head of Development?

They can expect the same warm-hearted greeting when I see you but also grit and determination to ensure our students are receiving equal support and opportunities within their sporting community. Even though we have just had our highest-ever number of active students in Scotland at 41,000+, I know the active student population are still a minority and I am determined for that to change and ultimately, assist Scotland in becoming a healthier nation.

You can get in contact with Eilidh by emailing Eilidh@scottishstudentsport.com.

SSS Sport and Active Health Coordinator Ben recently embarked on an exciting trip to the Technogym factory in Bologna. On Wednesday 5th July, Ben flew to Italy with the Technogym team to explore the latest developments within the Technogym range and discuss how SSS can utilize this knowledge to better support their partners on their Active Health journey.

The invitation extended to SSS was a result of the exciting news that Technogym had become a key commercial partner moving forward. This partnership opened up the opportunity for SSS staff to visit the Technogym headquarters and interact with the product and digital development teams, gaining insight into the upcoming projects and initiatives that Technogym has in the pipeline. This collaboration between SSS and Technogym ensures that SSS can provide the best possible support to partners utilizing Technogym products, ultimately enhancing the student experience and promoting Active Health opportunities.

During the visit, Ben had the chance to witness the wide range of products utilized by SSS partners in their establishments, as well as the newly developed Technogym App. Engaging with the developers, Ben was able to delve into the Active Health aspects of the products. Discussions revolved around areas such as tracking, solo and group challenges, and mindfulness and mental wellbeing. This firsthand experience allowed SSS to gain a comprehensive understanding of how Technogym products align with their Active Health approach.

Additionally, the visit included meetings with the corporate team at Technogym. These discussions focused on Technogym’s Active Workplace model, providing valuable insights that could be translated from the business context to higher education settings. This exchange of ideas further enriched the partnership between SSS and Technogym, fostering innovation and collaboration.

When asked to describe the visit in three words, Ben chose “active, exciting, and engaging.” The visit to the Technogym factory proved to be a dynamic experience, brimming with energy and the promise of advancements in the realm of Active Health.

SSS’s partnership with Technogym sets the stage for a fruitful collaboration, enabling SSS to leverage the latest developments in fitness technology to support their partners in promoting Active Health and providing exceptional student experiences.

Scottish Student Sport is delighted to welcome Ben Rowlings to the team. Ben brings with him a range of perspectives on sport and will be filling the role of Sport and Active Health Co-ordinator.

We caught up with Ben before his appointment to find out a wee bit more about him:

Can you tell us a wee bit about yourself and your new role?

My name is Ben and I have joined SSS as the new Sport and Active Health Co-ordinator. My background is in performance sport and disability sport and I have a real passion for getting people involved in sport and physical activity. My role at SSS is to work alongside our members and partners to get as many people active as possible.

Brilliant, can you fill us in on your sporting background?

My sporting background is based mainly in performance sport. I have been lucky to represent Great Britain at two Paralympic Games and multiple World and European Championships.

What has been your favourite live sporting moment that you’ve been a part of?

I have two that come to mind the first being a personal one, my first race at a Paralympic Games. Coming out of the call room underneath the Stadium in Rio and seeing the Paralympic Stadium open up in front of me.

The second being the 2004 Champions League Final in Istanbul. I have always been a massive Liverpool fan and that was the first football match I can remember being nervous watching (the last 45 minutes anyway).

Ben started this week and can be found via email at Ben@scottishstudentsport.com